What comes to mind in Ireland
What is black? An absence of light,
the cassocks of parish priests,
dark peat in an Irish bog.
What is brown? A leather belt,
decaying plants, veins of iron in stones,
the layered bark of a log.
What is grey? Lowering clouds,
skies threatening rain over windswept water,
the speckled muzzle of an old dog.
What is silver? A crucifix round a neck,
handcuffs and shackles, thirty shiny coins,
a flash of light through heavy fog.
Feature Image: Daniele Idini
No animals died
Our research on toads and carabids
considered predator and prey.
Japanese toads and bombardier beetles
were ‘introduced’, let’s say.
The relationships were explosive –
but complied with current laws.
We intend to show you footage.
Please, hold your applause.
Our methodology? Each beetle placed
in tongue’s reach of a toad.
Each swallowed.
Chemical explosions soon showed
toads bulging, swelling,
changing shape –
till finally, through emesis,
they let their prey escape.
Our results? All beetles were ejected –
and survived. No toads died.
We timed explosions, measured vomit,
observed from every side.
We’ve now described how toxic creatures
can avoid digestion.
Ah yes sir, at the back there,
do you have a question?
Reference
Sugiura, S., Sato, T. 2018 Successful escape of bombardier beetles from predator digestive systems. Biol.Lett. 14: 20170647. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2017.0647
Feature Image: Japanese Common Toad by Yasunori Koide.